It may feel like you’re in a constant battle over your thermostat, whether it’s not knowing what temperature it should be at different points throughout the day, or knowing what it should be but dealing with other people in your household who have different ideas about the temperature. There’s always somewhat of a disconnect between what temperatures will keep your energy bills low and what temperatures will keep you the most comfortable.
At Jennings Heating and Cooling, it’s our goal to ensure your equipment is running as efficiently as possible so that you can experience maximum comfort in your home without worrying so much about what your energy bill will look like at the end of the month.
Let’s settle this battle once and for all. Check out our infographic on ideal thermostat settings and read on for some helpful tips and considerations.
The Season Matters
Summer and winter are pretty obvious months in terms of choosing between heating and air conditioning, but spring and fall are sort of gray areas when it comes to thermostat settings.
You’ll notice in our infographic that instead of dictating a temperature range, we’ve stated different temperatures labeled as “heat” or “cool”. This is because it’s hard to predict what kind of weather the spring or fall will bring. If we’re having a particularly warm spring, you’ll need to utilize the AC, but if temperatures suddenly drop, you’ll then need to switch to heat.
Time of Day Matters, Too
There’s no sense heating or cooling your home to a comfortable temperature when no one is home—or awake—to enjoy it! That’s why we’ve organized our infographic both by season and by situation.
At home – When you’re home, you should of course set your thermostat to whatever feels most comfortable for you and your family, as long as it’s within the given range. Sticking to the lowest temperature in the range during cooler months, and the highest temperature during warmer months, will help keep your energy bills down.
Away – When everyone is out of the house, don’t waste energy on heat or AC that no one will notice. Turn your thermostat to a colder or warmer temperature (within 5 degrees of your desired at-home temperature) so that your heat or AC doesn’t switch on so often. If you have a smart thermostat, we recommend setting it to start heating or cooling back to the temperature you desire about one to two hours before arriving home or waking up.
Asleep – We suggest setting your thermostat at a temperature that’s within 3 degrees (colder or warmer depending on the season) of your at-home temperature to ensure you’re able to get a good night’s sleep. However, there is research that shows that a cooler bedroom temperature—no matter the season—yields optimal sleep.
Helpful Tips to Stay Comfortable and Keep Costs Low
You might think there’s no way you can have both optimal comfort and low energy bills, but that’s what the Jennings team is here for! Our technicians can inspect your systems to ensure they’re working at maximum efficiency, and if they’re not—we can recommend a new system to make that possible.
But there are other smaller steps you can take to try to adjust to temperatures in an attempt to keep energy bills low.
- If you’re cold in the winter, consider adding another layer of clothing before turning up the heat.
- If you’re feeling warm in the spring or fall, try opening a window for a natural breeze before turning to your AC.
- Ease into the seasons. Start with your desired temperature and then slowly work your way up or down according to the season. For example, after a long and hot summer, it may feel jarring to live in a house that’s 68℉. You may feel compelled to set your thermostat a little higher around 72℉. Start at 72℉ and work your way down degree by degree.
Other Considerations for Thermostat Settings
- Pets – This depends largely on what kind of pet you have, and then gets even more varied from there. If you have a dog or cat, ideal temperature depends on its size, coat type, breed, and age. Generally speaking, temperatures in the winter should be kept between 69℉ and 72℉ for most furry pets.
- Babies – If you have a baby in the home, it’s important to keep temperatures between 68℉ and 72℉, as experts recommend. Complications can arise if a baby gets too cold or warm.
- Houseplants – Generally speaking, daytime temperatures between 65℉ and 75℉ are perfect for most houseplants. They will start to wither if temperatures drop lower than 50℉ or peak higher than 85℉.
- Age of home – If you have an older home, you may be dealing with a situation that goes beyond the efficiency of your furnace or air conditioner. An aged roof, cracks, and old windows and doors are all cause for escaping hot or cold air. If you’re finding it hard to stay comfortable or have been getting hit with high energy bills, it may be time to consider some home repairs.
Maximize Your Home Comfort
The team at Jennings Heating and Cooling is committed to your home comfort. If your furnace or air conditioner isn’t keeping you comfortable, contact us today to schedule an inspection with one of our experienced technicians.
